In the second round of the 2024 Brasileirão, Vasco da Gama suffered a painful 2-1 defeat against RB Bragantino. Ignacio Laquintana opened the scoring for the home team in the 7th minute, and Vegetti equalized for Vasco in the 63rd minute. However, Vitinho’s goal in the 78th minute sealed the victory for Bragantino.
After the match, Vasco da Gama’s Argentine coach, Ramón Díaz, analyzed the defeat in a press conference and, in the heat of the moment, made a raw and sexist analysis regarding a refereeing decision that had harmed them: “That the VAR decision has to be made by a woman… is quite complicated.”
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Ramón Díaz apologized and clarified the situation after receiving countless criticisms
During the press conference, the Argentine coach began to talk about refereeing decisions, stating that “we cannot speak much about them,” but that did not stop him from making a sexist comment that caused outrage and mockery on social media:
“Regarding the referees, we cannot speak much because there is the VAR, and in the last game playing at home for Vasco, a lady, a woman, interpreted (a play that) was a penalty, and interpreted it differently, that football is different. And mainly that the VAR decision has to be made by a woman… I think… I believe it is quite complicated for that. Because football is so dynamic, actions are so fast… today I don’t know if also the referee in a penalty against our forward, who shoots, and they hit him and I don’t know if it was also a penalty.” The Argentine concluded.
On social media, Ramón Díaz’s name trended on Twitter for almost the entire night due to his explosive and ill-advised statements, which were taken as “sexist remarks.”
After the situation escalated, a visibly nervous Ramón Díaz came out to explain what he meant by his comment, also apologizing for the confusion:
“Yes, first, if something was misinterpreted from me and my statement, I want to apologize. But it seemed to me that what I meant to say is that one person cannot decide to have such an important decision in football, which is the participation of the VAR in the crucial decisions that are at stake in everything. If it was misinterpreted, I apologize, but it is not my intention. Greetings to all the people of Vasco, and we will continue to fight,” the coach stated, accompanied by club representatives.
Pronunciamento oficial de Ramón Díaz sobre sua fala na coletiva. pic.twitter.com/LE3wbr9XZ8
— NewsColina (@newscolina) April 18, 2024
Vasco da Gama also apologized
To ‘close’ this sad episode in some way, Vasco da Gama used its social media to join the public apology made by Ramón Díaz, also ensuring that they will work to reinforce measures and educational guidelines to prevent a scenario of this kind from happening again.
O Vasco da Gama lamenta a declaração do técnico Ramón Díaz e reafirma o compromisso de reforçar as medidas e diretrizes educativas necessárias em acordo com suas determinações, valores e princípios. Pedimos, assim como nosso técnico, desculpas.#VascoDaGama
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) April 18, 2024
Zagallo documentary
Sambafoot Series has launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo’ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays – as a player and as a coach. The first episode is available in Sambafoot’s Youtube channel and the series will receive weekly releases to tell this legend’s life story.
